House bill would boost N.C. cell service

Itís a rare occasion indeed when government at any level relinquishes control. Rules, regulations and enforcement are the job security of politicians and bureaucrats.

But loosening governmentís grip on the telecommunications business is exactly what House Bill 664 proposes to do.

The Cell Tower Deployment Act, if passed, will free Verizon, AT&T, Sprint and other telecommunications companies of pesky restrictions that ultimately lead to poor customer service.

Currently, government restrictions make wireless transmission towers an extremely high-dollar investment for the companies ó and investment that doesnít make good business sense.

That means poor service in areas where towers are sparse. Cell phone users canít get a signal to make or receive calls. Law enforcement officers, patrolling in those areas, arenít only cut off from using cell phones, they also canít add or retrieve information on the computers in their patrol cars.

Wireless communication is no longer a luxury. Itís the way the world works.

Wireless connections are a necessity in the personal lives of North Carolinians, in business and for the publicís safety.

The public safety aspect rightly has drawn support for House Bill 664 from county sheriffs who know the importance of speedy communications for officers in the field while investigating crime or working to prevent it.

An increasing number of individuals are abandoning their ďland linesĒ and choosing cell phone connectivity only. With fewer government restrictions, companies can provide better customer service.

Better customer service leads to more customers, improved company finances and a better return on the investment of shareholders.

Among the ridiculous restrictions that House Bill 664 will remove is the inability of telecommunications companies to share signal towers.

If companies find it in their interest to partner on infrastructure, why should the government forbid it?

It shouldnít and House Bill 664 frees businesses from senseless and burdensome restrictions.

The bill is a good start. There are many other opportunities to get government out of business in North Carolina, too. Such action can go a long way toward improving the stateís economy and the economic prosperity of businesses and individuals.

It deserves swift approval and a speedy trip across the governorís desk.